For Pakistan, 2002 was an important year. General Musharraf became the President through a controversial referendum and later organized general elections after passing a series of legislations. The October elections witnessed the formation and success of the MMA and also the divide between the people and regime towards the US led War against Terrorism. The economy improved but the law and order situation deteriorated. This is an outside perspective of Pakistan. What is the Pakistani perception?

The News, in its editorial, (01 January 2003), found the year 2002 “a mix of good and bad memories.” MB Naqvi observed (“2002:anno-horiblis,” The News, 8 January 2003) “Three events dominated the Pakistani minds in 2002: there was the 10 month-long military confrontation with India; COAS-President General Pervez Musharraf promulgated the LFO comprising constitutional amendments; and the Oct 10 general election inaugurated, in slow motion, an alleged democratic era. A few other events too require some notice: Musharraf made a speech on Jan 12 to prove he was not only a moderate and modern Musalman but also a tough anti-extremist ruler; he held a Referendum to stay as President and COAS until at least 2007; and his vicarious leadership led to Q League's governments-forming at the Centre and in Punjab and Sindh.”

 “Nothing more important happened in Pakistan in the year 2002 than the country's return to a quasi-civilian, quasi-democratic rule after three years of direct military rule. It was military rule, no doubt, but with a difference in that the press enjoyed unfettered freedom,” summed up, Dawn, in its editorial (01 January 2003). However, The News, in its editorial, (01 January 2003) differed slightly and stated, “Despite having conducted the controversial presidential referendum and pushing through constitutional amendments, the military regime deserves appreciation for having fulfilled its promise of restoring the democratic dispensation and for honouring the verdict of the country's apex court…Now that the civilian governments are in place at the centre and in the four provinces, 2003 raises new hopes for a better time ahead.”

The law and order situation, especially on the fundamentalist and terrorist fronts, deteriorated rapidly in 2002. The News, in its editorial, (01 January 2003) emphasised a “rise in terrorist acts and radicalisation of the extremist groups essentially in consequence to Pakistan's unequivocal support to the US traumatised the people all the year. The killing of nine French engineers in a suicide bombing act in Karachi, attacks against churches, mosques, imambargahs, schools and hospitals leaving scores dead, sectarian-motivated target shooting of around 87 doctors, all indicate the breakdown of law and order and increasing intolerance in the society.”

Masooda Bano, wrote (“Another wasted year,” The News, 03 January 2003), “The year 2002 can only be remembered as another wasted year in Pakistan's history… To begin looking at some of the failures of the past year, one should start with the performance of the military regime on international relations. The regime kept its pledge of serving American interests in the region and has been giving all out support to the US in its war on terrorism….Despite all these services, Pakistan got little support from the international community in the stalemate with India that stretched through most part of the year. It was India who was making all the war talk, but the western countries were telling Pakistan what to do. We were told harshly by everyone to stop exporting mujahideen to Kashmir, but no one told India to address the Kashmir issue and stop human rights violations there.”

Shireen Mazari wrote (“The International milieu,” The News, 01 January 2003) “As the year has ended, the US media campaign against Pakistan, especially its nuclear capability, has increased as has the Indian belligerency…For the time being, though, the noise from New Delhi is hostile and full of arrogance - clearly emulating the new US strategic doctrine. So, Pakistan should expect this belligerent tone to continue into at least the early part of 2003.”

Nasim Zehra, included the following elements, as a part of addressing Pakistan’s internal and external challenges, in the coming days. They included a “dialogue in all situations, with friends and adversaries, rejection of “force as a dispute settler, emphasis on “the integrated nature of sustainable security,” and rejection of “demonizing of any religion.” (“Nasim Zehra, “2003: Pakistan in the international arena,” The News, 02 January 2003)

On the economic front, Shahid Javed Burki, commented (“A better 2003?” Dawn, 7 January 2003) “With the revival of the Karachi stock market and with a number of countries in Pakistan's neighbourhood pursuing large, capital-intensive projects, the stage may have been set for the arrival of foreign direct investment in the country. If some momentum is generated by the two pipeline projects, Pakistan could appear on the radar screens of foreign investors. It needs them and they may come in 2003.”